Quick release mechanism for continuous casting coolant coupling pipes

ABSTRACT

Quick release mechanism for releasably attaching cooling water pipes on an oscillating continuous casting mold frame to water supply lines. A clamping yoke is pivotally attached to one pipe and carries a set screw which bears against a bearing lug attached to the second pipe to tighten the coupling. An internally tapered flange attached to one pipe provides guide means for the second pipe. The coupling is made leakproof by the use of an O-ring compressed by the clamp.

United States Patent [191 Bode, Jr.

[451 Apr. 2, 1974 1 QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING COOLANT COUPLING PIPES [75] Inventor: Charles H. Bode, Jr., Upper St.

Clair Twp., Allegheny County, Pa.

[73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Jan. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 216,503

[52] US. Cl. 164/283, 285/320 [51] Int. Cl. B22d 11/12 [58] Field of Search 164/283, 254, 309, 61,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,159,412 12/1964 Descarries 285/320 X 3,381,743 5/1968 Bode 164/283 949,608 2/1910 Watt 285/312 935,587 9/1909 Casey 285/311 32,464 6/1861 Bunnell 285/310 X 1,493,221 5/1924 Northrup 285/311 X 1,944,748 1/1934 Leach 285/320 X 1,991,343 2/1935 Ball 285/310 2,421,178 5/1947 Baker 285/311 2,643,139 6/1953 Hamilton 285/309 X 2,991,091 7/1961 De Cenzo 285/311 X 987,463 3/1911 Hodinger 285/311 X 1,095,220 5/1914 McIntosh 285/311 X 1,890,061 12/1932 'Lefkowitz 285/309 2,456,744 12/1948 Sjoberg 285/310 X 10/1950 Krapp 285/312 Primary Examiner-l Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John S. Brown Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ralph H. Dougherty [57] ABSTRACT Quick release mechanism for releasably attaching cooling water pipes on an oscillating continuous casting mold frame to water supply lines. A clamping yoke is pivotally attached to one pipe and carries a set screw which bears against a bearing lug attached to the second pipe to tighten the coupling. An internally tapered flange attached to one pipe provides guide means for the second pipe. The coupling is made leakproof by the use of an O-ring compressed by the clamp.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures MTENTEI] kPR 2 I974 SHEET 1 BF 2 PATENTEMPR 2M4 3.800 854 SHEET 2 1F 2 QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING COOLANT COUPLING PIPES In a conventional continuous-casting machine for steel or other metal, a tubular flow-through mold is fastened to an oscillator frame or support frame. Cooling water is circulated to all portions of the mold. Whenever it is desired to change a continuous-casting mold and oscillator frame in order to make repairs or to accommodate a new product size, it is desirable to perform the operation in as short a time as possible. Detaching and reattaching water pipes heretofore have been laborious and time-consuming tasks. My US. Pat. No. 3,381,743 teaches means for quickly disconnecting a mold from a frame, but it was still necessary to laboriously disconnect all water pipes before removal of the frame from the vertically machine. I have invented an inexpensive quick release mechanism which will allow workmen to remove the oscillating portion of a continuous casting machine and reattach it to the cooling water piping in much less time than was heretofore possible.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a coupling for attaching two pipes, which coupling can be released without removing any integral parts from the coupling. It is another object to provide a means for coupling pipes in a minimum of operating time.

In accordance with my invention one pipe carries a bearing lug on its side and a flange on its end having an annular groove for receiving an O-ring seal. The other pipe carries an internally tapered flange or coupling seat and a pivotally attached yoke having a set screw which bears against the lug on the first pipe whenever the coupling is connected. My invention can be better understood with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a continuous casting mold and oscillator frame showing cooling water pipmg.

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned elevational view taken along lines 11-]! of FIG. 1, showing the pipe clamp in the open position.

FIG. 3 is a similar view to FIG. 2 showing the pipe clamp in the closed position.

As shown in FIG. 1 a tubular flow-through mold is fixed to an oscillator frame 12. Cooling water is introduced to the mold through manifold or cooling water pipe 14 to which are connected flexible supply pipes 15. The flexible pipe is supported for vertical oscillator on coil springs 17 that are mounted on mold supporting structure 19. Guide rollers maintain the vertical section of the pipe in proper alignment during vertical oscillation of the oscillator frame and mold. The upper end of the vertical pipe section terminates in an annular flange 28 having an upstanding internally tapered side wall. A yoke 30 is pivotally attached to the exterior of flange 28. The yoke carries a set screw 31. Manifold l4 terminates in an elbow 34 which carries an annular flange 36 at its lower end with an annular groove 37 which carries an O-ring seal 39 therein. The manifold 2. 14 carries a bearing lug 42 for hearing engagement with set screw 31.

To break. the connection, the set screw 31 is loosened and yoke 30 is moved outwardly as shown in FIG. 2. When all such connections are broken in this manner, the oscillating frame can be raised without disturbing the cooling water supply piping below the manifold.

To make the connection, the yokes 30 are placed in the outward position, and the oscillating frame is lowered into position, the internal taper of the sidewall of flange 28 assuring proper alignment of each manifold with its respective supply pipe. The yokes are then I moved into position with setscrews 31 above bearing lugs 42 and tightened.

It can readily be seen from the foregoing that I have invented a coupling apparatus for pipes which can be released in a minimum amount of time without removing any integral parts from the coupling, yet can be rapidly connected in proper alignment as easily.

I claim:

1. In an oscillatable continuous casting machine which includes a fixed support structure, a tubular mold, an oscillator frame fixed to said structure and supporting said mold, a cooling water pipe connected to said frame and oscillatable therewith, and a vertical water supply pipe coupled to said cooling water pipe and spring-mounted on said fixed support structure for vertical oscillation, one of said pipes being curved, the combination therewith of an improved means for releasably connecting said cooling water pipe and said water supply pipe to form a coupling, said means comprising:

a. a yoke pivotally attached to one of said pipes, at

opposite sides of said pipe;

b. screw tightening means comprising a screw threadedly engaging said yoke;

c. a bearing lug attached to said curved pipe at a point substantially coincident with the axis of the coupling intersecting said curved pipe, said lug having a surface substantially normal to said axis for bearing engagement by said screw tightening means;

d. aligning means comprising an annular flange attached to one of said pipes, said flange having an internal taper for receiving the other of said pipes and aligning the mating surfaces of said pipes; and

bearing engagement with said aligning means.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTEFECATE OF CORRECTION Dated Aprii Z 1974 Patent No. 3 800 854 Charles H. Bode, Jr.,

5 in the above-identified patent own below:

Inventor(s) It is certified that error appear and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as sh line 3, "lines" should read pipes In the Abstract,

line 19, after "the" Column 1, line 17, cancel"'vertically", insert vertically line 49, "oscillator" should read oscillation Signed and sealed this 1st day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: McCOY Mr GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMIWDC 60376-P69 uvs covrmwim PRINTING OFTICE' 859 93O F OHM PO-lOSO (10- 69) 

1. In an oscillatable continuous casting machine which includes a fixed support structure, a tubular mold, an oscillator frame fixed to said structure and supporting said mold, a cooling water pipe connected to said frame and oscillatable therewith, and a vertical water supply pipe coupled to said cooling water pipe and spring-mounted on said fixed support structure for vertical oscillation, one of said pipes being curved, the combination therewith of an improved means for releasably connecting said cooling water pipe and said water supply pipe to form a coupling, said means comprising: a. a yoke pivotally attached to one of said pipes, at opposite sides of said pipe; b. screw tightening means comprising a screw threadedly engaging said yoke; c. a bearing lug attached to said curved pipe at a point substantially coincident with the axis of the coupling intersecting said curved pipe, said lug having a surface substantially normal to said axis for bearing engagement by said screw tightening means; d. aligning means comprising an annular flange attached to one of said pipes, said flange having an internal taper for receiving the other of said pipes and aligning the mating surfaces of said pipes; and e. sealing means between the mating surfaces of said pipes; f. whereby the tightening of said screw against said bearing lug will create substantially uniform pressure between the mating surfaces of said coupling and throughout said sealing means to ensure a tight coupling during vertical oscillation of said mold.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said sealing means comprises said annular flange having an annular groove and an O-ring in said groove adapted for bearing engagement with said aligning means. 